Laser lighting having selective resolution

ABSTRACT

In an example, the present invention provides an optical engine apparatus. The apparatus has a laser diode device, the laser diode device characterized by a wavelength ranging from 300 to 2000 nm or any variations thereof. In an example, the apparatus has a lens coupled to an output of the laser diode device and a scanning mirror device operably coupled to the laser diode device. In an example, the apparatus has an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror and configured with the laser device; and a spatial image formed on a portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate configured by a modulation of the laser and movement of the scanning mirror device.

BACKGROUND

Large displays are becoming increasingly popular and are expected togain further traction in the coming years as Liquid Crystal Displays(LCD) get cheaper for television (TV) and digital advertising becomesmore popular at gas stations, malls, and coffee shops. Substantialgrowth (e.g., over 40%) has been seen in the past several years forlarge format displays (e.g., >40 inch TVs), and consumers have grownaccustomed to larger displays for laptops and Personal Computers (PC) aswell. As more viewing content is available via mobile devices such asTV, internet and video, displays in handheld consumer electronics remainsmall (<6 inch) with the keyboard, camera, and other features competingfor space and power.

Additionally, smart lighting is emerging as a large opportunity withinthe current $80B lighting market, where sensors and connectivity areintroduced into the light source, as well as dynamic features related tothe illumination.

Existing illumination sources have substantial shortcomings in meetingthe needs of these important applications. Specifically, the deliveredlumens per electrical watt of power consumption is typically quite low,due to the low efficiency of the source, the low spatial brightness ofthe source and very low optical efficiency of optical engines. Anotherkey drawback is in the cost per delivered lumen, which, for existingsources, is typically high because of the poor optical efficiency.Another key shortcoming of the existing sources relates to the lack ofdynamic functionality, specifically in their limited ability to generatedynamic spatial and color patterns in a compact form factor with highefficiency and low cost.

Therefore, improved systems for displaying images and video, and smartlighting are desired.

SUMMARY

According to the present invention, techniques for laser lighting areprovided. Merely by way of example, the invention can be applied toapplications such as white lighting, white spot lighting, flash lights,automobile headlights, all-terrain vehicle lighting, light sources usedin recreational sports such as biking, surfing, running, racing,boating, light sources used for safety, drones, robots, counter measuresin defense applications, multi-colored lighting, lighting for flatpanels, medical, metrology, beam projectors and other displays, highintensity lamps, spectroscopy, entertainment, theater, music, andconcerts, analysis fraud detection and/or authenticating, tools, watertreatment, laser dazzlers, targeting, communications, transformations,transportations, leveling, curing and other chemical treatments,heating, cutting and/or ablating, pumping other optical devices, otheroptoelectronic devices and related applications, and source lighting andthe monochromatic, black and white or full color projection displays andthe like.

Optical engines with single laser light source, scanning mirror andun-patterned phosphor as well as engines with multiple lasers, scanningmirrors and un-patterned phosphors are disclosed. Multiple re-imagedphosphor architectures with transmission and reflection configurations,and color line and frame sequential addressing and parallel simultaneousaddressing are described. These high power efficiency and small enginesdo not require any de-speckling for high image quality and offeradjustable, on demand resolution and color gamut for projection displaysand smart lighting applications.

In an example, the present invention provides an optical engineapparatus. The apparatus has a laser diode device, the laser diodedevice characterized by a wavelength ranging from 300 to 2000 nm or anyvariations thereof. In an example, the apparatus has a lens coupled toan output of the laser diode device and a scanning mirror deviceoperably coupled to the laser diode device. In an example, the apparatushas an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror andconfigured with the laser device; and a spatial image formed on theun-patterned phosphor plate configured by a modulation of the laser andmovement of the scanning mirror device.

In an alternative example, the device has an optical engine apparatus.The apparatus has a laser diode device. In an example, the laser diodedevice is characterized by a wavelength. In an example, the apparatushas a lens coupled to an output of the laser diode device. The apparatushas a scanning mirror device operably coupled to the laser diode deviceand an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror andconfigured with the laser device. The apparatus has a spatial imageformed on a portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate configured by amodulation of the laser and movement of the scanning mirror device. In apreferred embodiment, the apparatus has a resolution associated with thespatial image, the resolution being selected from one of a plurality ofpre-determined resolutions. In an example, the resolution is provided bycontrol parameter associated with the spatial image.

In an example, the apparatus has a color or colors associated with thespatial image, the color or colors being associated with the modulationof the laser device and movement of the scanning mirror device. In anexample, the apparatus has another spatial image formed on the secondcolor un-patterned phosphor plate. In an example, the other spatialimage having another or same resolution and different color. In anexample, the other spatial image is output concurrently orsimultaneously with the spatial image on the first color un-patternedphosphor plate. In an example, the spatial image is characterized by atime constant. In an example, the control parameter is provided by acontroller coupled to the laser diode device and the scanning mirrordevice. In an example, the spatial image is speckle free.

In an example, the apparatus has an efficiency of greater than 10% to80% based upon an input power to the laser diode device and an output ofthe spatial image. In an example, the apparatus has a direct view of thespatial image by a user.

In an example, the present invention has an optical engine apparatus.The apparatus has a laser diode device. In an example, the laser diodedevice characterized by a wavelength ranging from 300 to 2000 nm,although there can be variations. In an example, the apparatus has alens coupled to an output of the laser diode device. The apparatus has ascanning mirror device operably coupled to the laser diode device. Theapparatus has a beam path provided from the scanning mirror. Theapparatus has a first color un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to thescanning mirror via the beam path and configured with the laser device,a second color un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanningmirror via the beam path and configured with the laser device, and athird color un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirrorvia the beam path and configured with the laser device. In an example,the apparatus has a spatial image formed on a portion of either thefirst color un-patterned phosphor plate, the second color un-patternedphosphor plate, or the third color un-patterned phosphor plate, or overall three un-patterned phosphor plates configured by a modulation of thelaser and movement of the scanning mirror device.

In an example, the apparatus has a first blocking mirror configured in afirst portion of the beam path to configure the beam path to the firstun-patterned phosphor plate; a second blocking mirror configured to asecond portion of the beam path to configure the beam path to the secondun-patterned phosphor plate.

In an example, the apparatus has a controller coupled to the laser diodedevice and the scanning mirror device, and configured to generate thespatial image on the portion of the un-patterned phosphor.

In an example, the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a multi-elementphosphor species. In an example, the multi-element phosphor speciescomprises a red phosphor, a green phosphor, and a blue phosphor.

In an example, the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a plurality ofcolor phosphor sub-plates.

In an example, the scanning mirror device comprises a plurality ofscanning mirrors. In an example, the un-patterned phosphor is includedon the scanning mirror. In an example, an three dimensional (3D) displayapparatus comprises one or more laser diodes, one or more scanningmirrors and one or more un-patterned phosphors to generate twostereoscopic images for the left and right eyes.

In an example, the apparatus is configured with a display system. In anexample, the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a red phosphor, agreen phosphor, or a blue phosphor within a spatial region of theun-patterned phosphor plate.

In an example, the apparatus has a heat sink device coupled to theun-patterned phosphor plate such that thermal energy is transferred andremoved using the heat sink device; and wherein the un-patternedphosphor plate includes at least one of a transmissive phosphor speciesor a reflective phosphor species.

Various benefits are achieved over pre-existing techniques using thepresent invention. In particular, the present invention enables acost-effective projection systems that utilize efficient light sourcesand result in high overall optical efficiency of the lighting or displaysystem. In a specific embodiment, the light source can be manufacturedin a relatively simple and cost effective manner. Depending upon theembodiment, the present apparatus and method can be manufactured usingconventional materials and/or methods according to one of ordinary skillin the art. In one or more embodiments, the laser device is capable ofmultiple wavelengths. Of course, there can be other variations,modifications, and alternatives. Depending upon the embodiment, one ormore of these benefits may be achieved. These and other benefits may bedescribed throughout the present specification and more particularlybelow.

The present invention achieves these benefits and others in the contextof known process technology. However, a further understanding of thenature and advantages of the present invention may be realized byreference to the latter portions of the specification and attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of the prior art, conventionalscanning mirror display.

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of novel architecture of theoptical engine and addressing electronics of the display with scanningmirror and un-patterned phosphor plate according to an example.

FIG. 3a illustrates the optical configuration with backside,transmission illumination and details of phosphor plate;

FIG. 3b illustrates the optical configuration with front side,perpendicular reflective illumination and details of the correspondingphosphor plate according to examples; and

FIG. 3c illustrates a full color phosphor plate.

FIG. 4 illustrates an optical architecture with one laser diode, onescanning mirror and two uniaxial on-off mirrors according to an example.

FIG. 5 illustrates an optical architecture with three laser diodes andthree scanning mirrors according to an example.

FIG. 6 illustrates a three dimensional (3D) optical architecture with alaser diode and phosphor plate configured to a scanning mirror accordingto an example.

FIG. 7a illustrates the driving waveforms for addressing of un-patternedphosphor display; and FIG. 7b illustrates the scanning line pattern overthree un-patterned phosphor plates according to examples.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system for dynamic lighting with the feedbackmechanism to follow the moving target according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the present invention, techniques for laser lighting areprovided.

This description relates to optical and electrical designs, architectureand implementation of smart lighting and displays. The opticalarchitecture is based on the single or multiple laser diodes, single ormultiple scanning mirrors and single or multiple un-patterned phosphorplates.

As background, conventional displays use white light illumination andarray of color filters and addressable Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)pixels on the panels, with pixels being turned on or off with or withoutlight intensity control by addressing electronics. Another type ofdisplays is formed by array of addressable pixels that generate lightemission by electroluminescence (Organic Light Emitting Diode—OLEDarray). Yet another type of display is created by addressable array ofdeflectable micromirrors that reflect the color sequential, timedivision multiplexed light selectively to projection optics and ascreen. Additionally, another type of color display that does notrequire the matrix of addressable elements is based on three color lightsources and the biaxial scanning mirror that allows formation of imagesby scanning in two directions while three lasers or other light sourcesare directly modulated by driving currents. In addition, patternedphosphor plate with red, green and blue array of phosphor pixels can beaddressed by laser light incident on scanning mirrors while the lightintensities are controlled by laser drivers. Illumination patterns canbe viewed directly, or re-imaged with an optical system to a desiredsurface.

The commonality of the matrix array display products is the fixedresolution of the displayed content, fixed color gamut, low powerefficiency and optical and electrical complexity. The direct andre-imaged scanning mirror displays that do not use matrices of coloredphosphor pixels offer adjustable resolution, higher power efficiency,and a compact footprint, but suffer from image speckle that is theresult of coherent nature of laser light sources required for thesedisplays, and also from safety issues, regulatory complexity, and highcost since 3 types of lasers with different wavelengths are required.

This disclosure describes novel displays and smart lighting that haveresolution and color gamut on demand, very high power efficiency, nospeckle and optical and electrical simplicity, miniature packaging,minimum number of active elements, and minimal safety and regulatoryconcerns. The multiple optical engine embodiments and several addressingschemes are disclosed.

A prior art scanning mirror display architecture is outlined in FIG. 1.An example can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,100,590, in the name ofRaring, et al. issued Aug. 4, 2015, and titled Laser based displaymethod and system, commonly assigned and hereby incorporated byreference.

According to an example, a projection apparatus is provided. Theprojection apparatus includes a housing having an aperture. Theapparatus also includes an input interface 110 for receiving one or moreframes of images. The apparatus includes a video processing module 120.Additionally, the apparatus includes a laser source. The laser sourceincludes a blue laser diode 131, a green laser diode 132, and a redlaser diode 133. The blue laser diode is fabricated on a nonpolar orsemipolar oriented Ga-containing substrate and has a peak operationwavelength of about 430 to 480 nm, although other wavelengths can beused. The green laser diode is fabricated on a nonpolar or semipolaroriented Ga-containing substrate and has a peak operation wavelength ofabout 490 nm to 540 nm. The red laser could be fabricated from AlInGaPwith wavelengths 610 to 700 nm. The laser source is configured toproduce a laser beam by combining outputs from the blue, green, and redlaser diodes using dichroic mirrors 142 and 143. The apparatus alsoincludes a laser driver module 150 coupled to the laser source. Thelaser driver module generates three drive currents based on a pixel fromthe one or more frames of images. Each of the three drive currents isadapted to drive a laser diode. The apparatus also includes aMicro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) scanning mirror 160, or “flyingmirror”, configured to project the laser beam to a specific locationthrough the aperture resulting in a single picture 170. By rastering thepixel in two dimensions, a complete image is formed. The apparatusincludes an optical member provided within proximity of the lasersource, the optical member being adapted to direct the laser beam to theMEMS scanning mirror. The apparatus includes a power source electricallycoupled to the laser source and the MEMS scanning mirror.

An example of a scanned phosphor display disclosed in FIG. 2 relies onthe single ultraviolet or blue laser diode, the single scanning mirrorand single phosphor plate. The light source for the display is the blueor ultraviolet laser diode 210 that is driven by high frequency driveramplifier 211. The electrical modulation signals that are converted intolight modulation signals are provided by the processor 212 whichreceives the display content from video or other digital data source214. The processor 212 converts the standard video or image content intothe format that is compatible with requirements of the scanning device230 and the addressing of the display media that is composed ofun-patterned phosphor plate 240. The monochromatic display needs only asingle un-patterned plate. The full color display requires the phosphorplate 240 that is subdivided into or composed of three un-patternedphosphor segments (or sub-plates), red one, 241, green one 242 and blueone 243. Additional phosphor sub-plates can be added, such as orangesub-phosphor plate to enhance the color gamut of the displayed images.The different phosphor sub-plates 241, 242 can be arranged in anyconvenient pattern, such as the row or two by two pattern withtransmissive or reflective configuration.

The coherent light generated by the laser diode 210 is collimated byoptics 220 and directed onto the scanning mirror 230. The scanner istypically bidirectional, biaxial actuator that permits angular scanningof the light beam over two dimensional raster. Unidirectional scannerrepresents another viable option. Another scanning option uses twouniaxial actuators for the full two dimensional image.

The optical engine composed of the unpackaged laser diode 210, thecollimated optics 220, the unpackaged scanning mirror 230 and thephosphor plate 240 is enclosed in the hermetic or non-hermetic packagethat protects the components against particulate contamination. Theoptional hermetic package can be filled with inert gas, gas containingoxygen or other desired gas dopant with lower pressure than atmosphericpressure, compressed dry air, or contain low level of vacuum if lowfriction operation of the scanner is desirable for higher deflectionangle operation. Packaging the phosphor plate inside the module hascertain benefits with respect to form factor, reliability, and cost.

A laser diode is formed in gallium and nitrogen containing epitaxiallayers that have been transferred from the native gallium and nitrogencontaining substrates that are described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/312,427 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0140710, which areincorporated by reference herein. As an example, this technology of GaNtransfer can enable lower cost, higher performance, and a more highlymanufacturable process flow.

The typical scanning mirror can be two dimensionalMicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) electrostatically orelectromagnetically driven scanner. The electrostatic comb MEMS scanner230 offers large deflection angles, high resonant frequencies andrelatively high mechanical stiffness for good shock and vibrationtolerance. When even higher resonant frequencies, higher scanning anglesand higher immunity to shock and vibration are required, two dimensionalelectromagnetic scanning MEMS mirror 230 is used. Another embodimentuses two uniaxial scanning mirrors instead of one biaxial scanner. Thescanning mirrors are typically operated in the resonant mode orquasi-static mode and synchronization of their displacement with thedigital content modulating the lasers is required. The active sensing ofthe deflection angles (not shown in the figure) is included in thesystem. It can be accomplished by incorporation of the sensors on thehinges of the scanning mirrors. These sensors can be of piezoelectric,piezoresistive, capacitive, optical or other types. Their signal isamplified and used in the feedback loop to synchronize the motion ofmirrors with the digital display or video signals.

The light image generated by laser beam scanning of un-patternedphosphor can be viewed directly by the observer 260 or it can bere-imaged by the optical system 250 onto the appropriate optical screen270. For one color imaging system, the optical system 250 does notrequire any color light combiners, but for the full color imagingsystem, the optical system 250 includes also combining optics that arenot shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity, but are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6below.

The details of one un-patterned phosphor plate are included in FIG. 3a .The back side illumination 390 impinges on the substrate 310 that istransparent to monochromatic laser illumination and is coated withantireflective thin film structure 320 on the illumination side. On thephosphor side of the substrate, the highly reflective layer 330 composedof the single film or multiple stack of high and low refractive indexlayers is used. The reflection is optimized for emission wavelengths ofthe phosphors so that almost all emitted light intensity is used in theforward direction. This coating is transparent at the excitationwavelength of the laser diode. The phosphor layer 340 composed of powderfilms, single crystal phosphors or quantum dots are selected so thatefficient phosphorescence occurs for the particular excitationwavelength and emission of desirable red, green and blue wavelengths.The plate 301 can contain one, two, three or more phosphor sub-platesthat are not shown in FIG. 3a . The optimized color gamut is achievedwith the single phosphor or mixture of phosphors. Some examples of thephosphors for red, green, orange and blue, among others, are listedbelow. Images produced on the phosphor layer 340 are re-imaged with theoptical system 392. The phosphor plate may contain the heat sink inparticular for high brightness systems. The heat sink for transmissiveconfiguration is formed by materials that are very good thermalconductors but are optically transparent to the illumination light.

The second architecture with the phosphor plate 302 is presented in FIG.3b . In this case, the excitation light 390 is brought in from the frontside of the phosphor surface. The scanned excitation light 390 passesthrough dichroic mirror 351 and collection optics 350 and is directed tothe phosphor plate 302 having the substrate 310. The phosphor 340 isplaced on the highly reflected layer 370 which in turn resides on thesubstrate 310. The light 391 emitted by the phosphors 340 is collimatedand imaged by the optical assembly 350 and directed to the screen or theobserver by reflection from dichroic mirror 351 and by optional opticalcomponents 352.

FIG. 3c shows the details of the full color phosphor plate 303 thatcomprises of the substrate 310 and phosphor films 341, 342 and 343 thatare referred to here as sub-plates. The single layer or multilayer filmstacks 371, 372 and 373 that reflect efficiently the phosphorescentlight generated by three phosphors and also illumination light 390reside between the substrate 310 and phosphorescent films 341, 342 and343. Alternatively, the single film stack can be substituted for threedifferent stacks with some loss of reflection efficiency for theemission spectra that cover three spectral regions. The reflectivephosphor plates may contain heat sink film that is placed belowphosphors 341, 342, 343 or below reflective layers 371, 372, 373. Insome cases, heat sink film functionality can be combined with reflectionfilms.

The full color display architecture 400 with three color sub-plates isshown in FIG. 4. The modulated light is generated by the laser diode 410that is driven by the laser driver, video processing electronicsaccording to input data represented by the unit 415 which has equivalentfunctionality to the unit 215 in FIG. 2. The scanning mirror 430provides the scanning pattern over the phosphors 441, 442 and 443. Thetwo state (on-off) mirror 473 allows the excitation light to be guidedonto the first phosphor 443 when it is in the on-state. When the mirror473 is in the off-state and mirror 472 is switched into on-state, theexcitation light is directed onto the second phosphor 442. When bothmirrors 473 and 472 are in the off-state, the excitation light fallsonto the fixed mirror 480 that brings the light onto the third phosphor441. The light emitted by the phosphors 441, 442 and 443 is imaged bythe optical systems 451, 452, 453 and directed for recombination intoone beam by using mirrors 461 and 462 and combining cube 460. The imagesare formed on the eye of the observer or on the screen 495.

Additional design and performance flexibility can be achieved by addingadditional light sources and the scanning mirrors to the basicarchitectures described above. The option with additional opticalelements is of particular interest when the displays or smart lightingare intended for high brightness applications that cannot be satisfiedby the single light source with the highest available power. Thearchitecture of such a design is shown in FIG. 5. The display medium isthe same as disclosed in FIG. 3c with three phosphor segments 541, 542and 543. The transmission, back side illumination is selected here forillustration of one typical architecture, even though other illuminationoptions can be used such as reflection, front side illumination in FIG.3b . When higher display brightness than brightness that can be providedwith the highest single laser power output and phosphor combination isneeded, additional laser diodes can be added. Three laser diodes 511,512 and 513 with ultraviolet or blue wavelength may serve as lightsources. The laser diodes are driven with electronic circuits 515, 516and 517. The elements of these circuits have been disclosed earlier,with description of FIG. 2. The laser light from the laser diodes 511,512 and 513 is collimated with optical elements 521, 522 and 523respectively. The collimated, modulated light trains are directed tothree scanning mirrors 531, 532 and 533 that address the phosphors 541,542 and 543. This type of addressing is referred to herein assimultaneous color addressing. The data rates to modulate the laserdiodes can be at least three times slower than color sequentialaddressing data rates disclosed in FIG. 4. Moreover, the scanning mirrorresonant frequencies for the fast axis can be three times lower than thefrequencies required for sequential color addressing of FIG. 4. Lightemitted by phosphors 541, 542 and 543 is collected by optical subsystems551, 552 and 553 described earlier. The superposition of these threecolor beams is accomplished by right angle static mirrors 561 and 563and cube color combiner 560. The color images or video are then directedto the screen 595 or directly to the observer.

This embodiment has more optical components but less challengingrequirements on laser modulation frequencies and scanning angles. Inaddition, optical architecture of FIG. 5 is very suitable for highbrightness applications. The laser diodes 511, 512 and 513 can benominally the same lasers with the same emission wavelength. The powerrating of the laser diodes can be selected so that desired brightnessand color gamut are achieved on the screen. Alternatively, the laserdiodes 511, 512 and 513 can have different emission wavelengths thatprovide higher conversion efficiency of phosphor emission. The coolingof phosphors or their motion on color wheel is typically not required,as the energy input from the laser diodes is naturally distributed overthe whole area of phosphors by scanning of these laser beams. Thesephosphor based displays do not present any safety issue because highlycollimated, low divergence laser beams are transferred into divergentlight beams by phosphorescence. This contrasts with direct laserscanners of FIG. 1 that form images with highly parallel beams andrequire significant laser safety measures to avoid accidental direct eyeexposures.

Another embodiment places phosphor(s) directly on the scanning mirrorsurface. In this case, the separate phosphor plates 541, 542 and 543 arenot required in FIG. 5.

Different elements and features from the described architectures can becombined in other ways to create other designs suitable for the specificapplications. In various embodiment, the blue laser diode can be polar,semipolar, and non-polar. Similarly, green laser diode can be polar,semipolar, and non-polar. For example, blue and/or green diodes aremanufactured from bulk substrate containing gallium nitride material.For example, following combinations of laser diodes are provided, butthere could be others: Blue polar+Green nonpolar+Red*AlInGaP, Bluepolar+Green semipolar+Red*AlInGaP, Blue polar+Green polar+Red*AlInGaP,Blue semipolar+Green nonpolar+Red*AlInGaP, Blue semipolar+Greensemipolar+Red*AlInGaP, Blue semipolar+Green polar+Red*AlInGaP, Bluenonpolar+Green nonpolar+Red*AlInGaP, Blue nonpolar+Greensemipolar+Red*AlInGaP, Blue nonpolar+Green polar+Red*AlInGaP. In analternative embodiment, the light source comprises a single laser diode.For example, the light source comprises a blue laser diode that outputsblue laser beams. The light source also includes one or more opticalmembers that change the blue color of the laser beam. For example, theone or more optical members include phosphor material. It is to beappreciated that the light source may include laser diodes and/or LightEmitting Diodes (LEDs). In one embodiment, the light source includeslaser diodes in different colors. In another embodiment, the lightsource includes one or more colored LEDs. In yet another embodiment,light source includes both laser diodes and LEDs.

In various embodiments, laser diodes are utilized in 3D displayapplications. Typically, 3D display systems rely on the stereoscopicprinciple, where stereoscopic technology uses a separate device forperson viewing the scene which provides a different image to theperson's left and right eyes. Example of this technology is shown inFIG. 6. Even though several different embodiments are useful. Thearchitecture which is the simplest optically but more complexelectrically is shown in FIG. 6 with the single 2D scanning mirror 630and the single phosphor plate 641. The other architectures comprise two2D scanning mirrors and two phosphor plates that generate two images fortwo eyes independently but in synchronization. More complex opticalarchitecture can comprise six 2D scanning mirrors, six phosphor plateand three image combiners, where each two phosphor plates provide onecolor for the image. This architecture has the easiest requirements ondata rates, scanning rates of the mirrors and bandwidth of the drivingelectronics.

The architecture 600 of 3D display further includes the light source 610with the power modulating electronics 615. The light from the lightsource 610 is collimated by optical components 620 and directed onto 2Dbiaxial mirror scanner 630. The light rastered by the scanner passesthrough the dichroic mirror 660 and the optical assembly 651 thatfocuses the incident light on the phosphor plate 641 which isimplemented here in the reflection configuration. One color displayrequires only a single color phosphor while the full color displayrequires at least three phosphor sub-plates that form the completephosphor plate, as disclosed above in FIG. 3c . The light emitted by thephosphor 641 in re-imaged with the optical assemble 651, reflected fromthe dichroic mirror 660 onto two state (on-off) MEMS mirror 672. Whenthe image is supposed to be directed to the left eye 695 of theobserver, then the mirror 672 is in the on position. When the image isintended for the right eye 696 of the observer, the mirror 672 is in theoff position and light is directed through the optical element 690. Inthat case, the light falls onto the fixed mirror 680 which reflects itthrough the lens 691 to the right eye 696 of the observer. The scanningmirrors 630 and 672 are controlled by the electronic circuits 616 thatreceive the feedback signals from the sensors on the mirrors 630 and 680about their positions. The servo circuits that are not shown in FIG. 6then adjust the electrical signals to the mirrors so that the video datathat is streamed into the laser source 610 is synchronized with themirror positions.

In other embodiments, the present invention includes a device and methodconfigured on other gallium and nitrogen containing substrateorientations. In a specific embodiment, the gallium and nitrogencontaining substrate is configured on a family of planes including a{20-21} crystal orientation. In a specific embodiment, {20-21} is 14.9degrees off of the m-plane towards the c-plane (0001). As an example,the miscut or off-cut angle is +/−17 degrees from the m-plane towardsc-plane or alternatively at about the {20-21} crystal orientation plane.As another example, the present device includes a laser stripe orientedin a projection of the c-direction, which is perpendicular to thea-direction (or alternatively on the m-plane, it is configured in thec-direction). In one or more embodiments, the cleaved facet would be thegallium and nitrogen containing face (e.g., GaN face) that is 1-5degrees from a direction orthogonal to the projection of the c-direction(or alternatively, for the m-plane laser, it is the c-face).

As used herein, the term GaN substrate is associated with GroupIII-nitride based materials including GaN, InGaN, AlGaN, or other GroupIII containing alloys or compositions that are used as startingmaterials. Such starting materials include polar GaN substrates (i.e.,substrate where the largest area surface is nominally an (h k l) planewherein h=k=0, and l is non-zero), non-polar GaN substrates (i.e.,substrate material where the largest area surface is oriented at anangle ranging from about 80-100 degrees from the polar orientationdescribed above towards an (h k l) plane wherein l=0, and at least oneof h and k is non-zero) or semi-polar GaN substrates (i.e., substratematerial where the largest area surface is oriented at an angle rangingfrom about 0.1 to 80 degrees or 110-179.9 degrees from the polarorientation described above towards an (h k l) plane wherein l=0, and atleast one of h and k is non-zero). The laser diode can be enclosed in asuitable package. Such package can include those such as in TO-38 andTO-56 headers. Other suitable package designs and methods can alsoexist, such as TO-9 and even non-standard packaging. In a specificembodiment, the present device can be implemented in a co-packagingconfiguration such as those described in U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/347,800, commonly assigned, and hereby incorporated by referencefor all purposes.

In other embodiments, some or all components of these optical engines,including the bare (unpackaged) light sources and scanning mirrors canbe packaged in the common package hermetically or non-hermetically, withor without specific atmosphere in the package. In other embodiments, thepresent laser device can be configured in a variety of applications.Such applications include laser displays, metrology, communications,health care and surgery, information technology, and others. As anexample, the present laser device can be provided in a laser displaysuch as those described in U.S. Ser. No. 12/789,303 filed May 27, 2010,which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Nos. 61/182,105 filed May 29,2009 and 61/182,106 filed May 29, 2009, each of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein. Of course, there can be othervariations, modifications, and alternatives.

In an example, the present invention provides a method and device foremitting electromagnetic radiation using non-polar or semipolar galliumcontaining substrates such as GaN, AlN, InN, InGaN, AlGaN, and AlInGaN,and others. The invention can be applied to optical devices, lasers,light emitting diodes, solar cells, photoelectrochemical water splittingand hydrogen generation, photodetectors, integrated circuits, andtransistors, among other devices.

In an example, a phosphor, or phosphor blend or phosphor single crystalcan be selected from one or more of (Y, Gd, Tb, Sc, Lu, La).sub.3(Al,Ga, In).sub.50.sub.12:Ce.sup.3+, SrGa.sub.2S.sub.4:Eu.sup.2+,SrS:Eu.sup.2+, and colloidal quantum dot thin films comprising CdTe,ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdSe, or CdTe. In an example, a phosphor is capable ofemitting substantially red light, wherein the phosphor is selected fromone or more of the group consisting of(Gd,Y,Lu,La).sub.2O.sub.3:Eu.sup.3+, Bi.sup.3+;(Gd,Y,Lu,La).sub.2O.sub.2S:Eu.sup.3+, Bi.sup.3+;(Gd,Y,Lu,La)VO.sub.4:Eu.sup.3+, Bi.sup.3+; Y.sub.2(O,S).sub.3:Eu.sup.3+;Ca.sub.1-xMo.sub.1-ySi.sub.yO.sub.4: where 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.5,0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.1; (Li,Na,K).sub.5Eu(W,Mo)O.sub.4;(Ca,Sr)S:Eu.sup.2+; SrY.sub.2S.sub.4:Eu.sup.2+;CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4:Ce.sup.3+; (Ca,Sr)S:Eu.sup.2+;3.5MgO*0.5MgF.sub.2*GeO.sub.2:Mn.sup.4+(MFG);(Ba,Sr,Ca)Mg.sub.xP.sub.2O.sub.7:Eu.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+;(Y,Lu).sub.2WO.sub.6:Eu.sup.3+, Mo.sup.6+;(Ba,Sr,Ca).sub.3Mg.sub.xSi.sub.2O.sub.8:Eu.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+, wherein1<x.ltoreq.2;(RE.sub.1-yCe.sub.y)Mg.sub.2-xLi.sub.xSi.sub.3-xPxO.sub.12, where RE isat least one of Sc, Lu, Gd, Y, and Tb, 0.0001<x<0.1 and 0.001<y<0.1; (Y,Gd, Lu, La).sub.2-xEu.sub.xW.sub.1-yMo.sub.yO.sub.6, where0.5.ltoreq.x..ltoreq.1.0, 0.01.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1.0;(SrCa).sub.1-xEu.sub.xSi.sub.5N.sub.8, where 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3;SrZnO.sub.2:Sm.sup.+3; M.sub.mO.sub.nX, wherein M is selected from thegroup of Sc, Y, a lanthanide, an alkali earth metal and mixturesthereof; X is a halogen; 1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.3; and 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.4,and wherein the lanthanide doping level can range from 0.1 to 40%spectral weight; and Eu.sup.3+ activated phosphate or borate phosphors;and mixtures thereof. Further details of other phosphor species andrelated techniques can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,956,894, in the namesof Raring, et al. issued Feb. 17, 2015, and titled Light devices usingnon-polar or semipolar gallium containing materials and phosphors, whichis commonly owned, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Although the above has been described in terms of an embodiment of aspecific package, there can be many variations, alternatives, andmodifications. As an example, the laser or LED device can be configuredin a variety of packages such as cylindrical, surface mount, power,lamp, flip-chip, star, array, strip, or geometries that rely on lenses(silicone, glass) or sub-mounts (ceramic, silicon, metal, composite).Alternatively, the package can be any variations of these packages. Inother embodiments, the packaged device can include other types ofoptical and/or electronic devices. As an example, the optical devicescan be OLED, a laser, a nanoparticle optical device, and others. Inother embodiments, the electronic device can include an integratedcircuit, a sensor, a micro-machined electronic mechanical system, or anycombination of these, and the like. In a specific embodiment, thepackaged device can be coupled to a rectifier to convert alternatingcurrent power to direct current, which is suitable for the packageddevice. The rectifier can be coupled to a suitable base, such as anEdison screw such as E27 or E14, bipin base such as MR16 or GU5.3, or abayonet mount such as GU10, or others. In other embodiments, therectifier can be spatially separated from the packaged device.Additionally, the present packaged device can be provided in a varietyof applications. In a preferred embodiment, the application is generallighting, which includes buildings for offices, housing, outdoorlighting, stadium lighting, and others. Alternatively, the applicationscan be for display, such as those used for computing applications,televisions, flat panels, micro-displays, and others. Still further, theapplications can include automotive, gaming, and others. In a specificembodiment, the present devices are configured to achieve spatialuniformity. That is, diffusers can be added to the encapsulant toachieve spatial uniformity. Depending upon the embodiment, the diffuserscan include TiO.sub.2, CaF.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, CaCO.sub.3, BaSO.sub.4, andothers, which are optically transparent and have a different index thanthe encapsulant causing the light to reflect, refract, and scatter tomake the far field pattern more uniform. Of course, there can be othervariations, modifications, and alternatives.

The addressing of the phosphor plates can be performed in multiple ways,as outlined in FIG. 7. The first addressing option is color sequential,line by line alternative, with fast scanning in one direction (e.g.,fast x direction) and slower scanning in the second direction (e.g.,slow y direction). In this case, the scanning mirror 230 undergoes theline by line raster over the full width of the phosphor plate 240 inback and forth manner. If the phosphor plate 240 has three distinct RGBphosphors 241, 242 and 243, then the driving waveform will be asschematically shown in FIG. 7, where the first set of driving currents711 generates the corresponding desired laser intensities on the firstline 761 of the red sub-plate 741, followed by the second set of drivingcurrents 712 that generates the desired laser intensities on the firstline 761 of the green sub-plate 742, followed by the third set ofdriving currents 713 for the blue sub-plate 743. When the second line762 of the display image is being formed using the small displacement ofthe scanner along the slow y axis and another scan of the mirror in theopposite x direction, the second set of driving current waveforms issupplied to the laser diode to form the second line 762 of the image inthe reverse sequence with blue, green and red. This addressing processis continued until the full image frame has been generated with the lastline 769 having the last set of current pulses 723 for blue phosphorplate. The addressing is line by line, color sequential addressing.Multiple lasers can be combined in such configurations, for applicationsrequiring higher optical output.

The addressing scheme can be altered to accommodate frame by frame,color sequential addressing. In this case, the first color frame, suchas red frame is fully defined, followed by the green and blue frames.The scanning mirror 230 scans over the first phosphor (e.g., red) 741completely and then continues scanning over the second phosphor (e.g.,green) 742 fully and it completes the first color image frame byscanning over the full third phosphor (e.g., blue) 743 plate. Thesequencing of the phosphor illumination can be optimized for thermalperformance of the phosphor, to avoid overheating and to maximize theefficiency and reliability of the system. The optical architecture ofFIG. 5 with the multiple scanners allows simultaneous color addressingwhere the addressing proceeds the same way as described above exceptthat the primary color waveforms 711, 712 and 713 are usedsimultaneously and the primary color beam scanning in FIG. 7b over thesub-plates 741, 742 and 743 occurs simultaneously.

The smart dynamic illumination system 800 based on disclosedillumination technology and the display or sensor technologies ispresented in FIG. 8, which shows the key architectural blocks of thesystem. The illumination subsystem 810 can be white, one color ormulticolor, as described in FIGS. 2 to 5. The illumination beam 820 or821 is directed toward the specific target 830 or background 870 thatmight contain the intended target to be followed with illumination beam.The detection subsystem 840 can be a simple multi-element array ofphotosensors that respond in the visible part of the spectrum (0.4 to0.7 um), such as the small CMOS or CCD array, or infrared spectrum, suchas infrared sensor array or microbolometer array sensitive at spectralwavelengths from 0.3 to 15 um. Alternatively, the subsystem 840 can bethe full imaging array, sensitive in visible or infrared part of thespectrum. Other motion sensors that are based on non-imaging principlescan also be used. The motion related signals or full visible or infraredimages are analyzed with the processing electronics 850 and the data aredirected to the servo control electronics 860. In turn, the servosubsystem 860 generates the feedback signals and controls the scanningmirror(s) and lasers of illumination system 810. In this manner, thetarget can be followed with dynamic illumination, including the controlof the intensity, color and time duration of the illumination as shownin FIG. 8.

When the target moves from the position 830 to the position 831, thelight 822 reflected and scattered by the target changes to the lightbeams 823. The change in the light beams or the images that theyrepresent, are detected by the detection subsystem and fed into theprocessing electronics 850 and servo control 860 which controls theillumination beams by moving them from the position 830 to the position831, effectively keeping the illumination beam directed on the target atall times. When the illumination is outside of the visible spectrum, thetarget may not be aware that it is monitored and followed which may beadvantageous in some security applications.

The complete dynamic illumination system can be mounted on thestationary platforms in offices, homes, galleries, etc. or can beemployed in the movable systems such as automobiles, planes and drones.

While the above is a full description of the specific embodiments,various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may beused. Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not betaken as limiting the scope of the present invention which is defined bythe appended claims.

1. An optical engine apparatus for selective resolution comprising: alaser diode device, characterized by a wavelength; a lens coupled to anoutput of the laser diode device; a scanning mirror device operablycoupled to the laser diode device; an un-patterned phosphor platecoupled to the scanning mirror and configured with the laser device; anda spatial image formed on a portion of the un-patterned phosphor plateconfigured by a modulation of the laser and movement of the scanningmirror device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising acontroller coupled to the laser diode device and the scanning mirrordevice, and configured to generate the spatial image on the portion ofthe un-patterned phosphor.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theun-patterned phosphor plate comprises a multi-element phosphor species,the multi-element phosphor species comprises a red phosphor, a greenphosphor, and a blue phosphor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theun-patterned phosphor plate comprises a plurality of multi-elementphosphor plates, and the scanning mirror device comprises a plurality ofscanning mirrors.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus isconfigured with a display system.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a heat sink device coupled to the un-patterned phosphor platesuch that thermal energy is transferred and removed using the heat sinkdevice; and wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate includes at leastone of a transmissive phosphor species or a reflective phosphor species.7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor or imager, andfeedback and servo controls to track and dynamically illuminate anobject of interest.
 8. An optical engine apparatus comprising: a laserdiode device, characterized by a wavelength; a lens coupled to an outputof the laser diode device; a scanning mirror device operably coupled tothe laser diode device; an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to thescanning mirror and configured with the laser device; a first spatialimage formed on a first portion of the un-patterned phosphor plateconfigured by a modulation of the laser and movement of the scanningmirror device; a first resolution associated with the first spatialimage, the first resolution being selected from one of a plurality ofpre-determined resolutions, the first resolution being provided bycontrol parameter associated with the first spatial image; a secondspatial image formed on a second portion of the un-patterned phosphorplate; and a second resolution associated with the second spatial image,the second resolution being different than the first resolution and acolor of the second spatial image being different than a color of thefirst spatial image, wherein the second spatial image is outputconcurrently with the first spatial image on the un-patterned phosphorplate, wherein the first spatial image is characterized by a timeconstant, wherein the control parameter is provided by a controllercoupled to the laser diode device and the scanning mirror device, andwherein the first spatial image is speckle free.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein the controller is configured to generate the firstspatial image on the first portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate.10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the un-patterned phosphor platecomprises a plurality of plates and the scanning mirror device comprisesa plurality of scanning mirrors.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 whereinthe apparatus is configured with a display system.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a redphosphor, a green phosphor, or a blue phosphor within a spatial regionof the un-patterned phosphor plate.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 furthercomprising a heat sink device coupled to the un-patterned phosphor platesuch that thermal energy is transferred and removed using the heat sinkdevice; and wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate includes at leastone of a transmissive phosphor species or a reflective phosphor species.14. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a color or colorsassociated with the first spatial image, the color or colors beingassociated with the modulation of the laser device and movement of thescanning mirror device.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The apparatus of claim 8further comprising a beam path provided from the scanning mirror device,wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises: a first un-patternedphosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device via the beam pathand configured with the laser diode device; a second un-patternedphosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device via the beam pathand configured with the laser diode device; a third un-patternedphosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device via the beam pathand configured with the laser diode device, wherein the first spatialimage is formed on a first portion of either the first un-patternedphosphor plate, the second un-patterned phosphor plate, or the thirdun-patterned phosphor plate, and is configured by a modulation of thelaser diode device and movement of the scanning mirror device.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16 further comprising a first blocking mirrorconfigured in a first portion of the beam path to configure the beampath to the first un-patterned phosphor plate, and a second blockingmirror configured to a second portion of the beam path to configure thebeam path to the second un-patterned phosphor plate.
 18. An opticalengine apparatus for selective resolution comprising: a laser diodedevice, characterized by a wavelength; a lens coupled to an output ofthe laser diode device; a scanning mirror device with phosphor on itssurface, operably coupled to the laser diode device and a spatial imageformed on a screen or an eye of the observer configured by a modulationof the laser and movement of the scanning mirror device.
 19. A method ofsequential color addressing, the method comprising: providing controlsignals to a laser diode device and a scanning mirror device to scan andmodulate a laser beam over un-patterned color phosphor platessequentially line by line or plate by plate to form a spatial colorimage on a screen or an eye of an observer.
 20. A method of simultaneouscolor addressing, the method comprising: providing control signals tolaser diode devices and scanning mirror devices to scan and modulatelaser beams over un-patterned color phosphor plates simultaneously toform a spatial color image on a screen or an eye of an observer.